K012769 · Macropore Biosurgery, Inc. · NHB · Oct 25, 2001 · Ear, Nose, Throat
Device Facts
Record ID
K012769
Device Name
MACROPORE ENT RECONSTRUCTION FILM
Applicant
Macropore Biosurgery, Inc.
Product Code
NHB · Ear, Nose, Throat
Decision Date
Oct 25, 2001
Decision
SESE
Submission Type
Traditional
Regulation
21 CFR 874.3620
Device Class
Class 2
Attributes
Therapeutic
Indications for Use
The MacroPore ENT Reconstruction Film is indicated for the following surgical applications: - 1). Tympanic membrane repair. - 2). Tympanoplasty in the middle car. - 3). Nasal splinting and surgical repair of nasal septum. - 4). Guided tissue regeneration of the external ear. - 5). Prevents adhesions between the septum and the nasal cavity
Device Story
Resorbable poly lactic acid (PLA) implant in sheet form; used in head and neck reconstructive surgery. Surgeon cuts or shapes film to size; malleable when heated to ~55°C (e.g., in sterile hot water) for 3D anatomical contouring. Can be rolled into tubes or used as flat sheets; fixated with resorbable sutures. Provided in various shapes/sizes (10mm x 10mm to 120mm x 120mm) and thicknesses (0.02mm to 2.0mm), with or without macroporous holes (50-3,000 microns). Used in clinical settings by surgeons to support tissue repair, prevent adhesions, or act as a space-occupying substance. Benefits include structural support and guided tissue regeneration during healing.
Clinical Evidence
Animal study conducted to demonstrate safety and efficacy; results confirmed materials are appropriate for the indications for use. Bench testing included viscosity stability during heating and mechanical strength testing compared to predicates.
Technological Characteristics
Resorbable polylactic acid (PLA) sheet; semi-rigid; malleable at ~55°C. Thickness 0.02mm–2.0mm. Macroporous holes 50–3,000 microns. Manual instrumentation used for shaping/cutting. No electronic components or software.
Indications for Use
Indicated for patients requiring tympanic membrane repair, tympanoplasty, nasal splinting, nasal septum repair, or guided tissue regeneration of the external ear, and for the prevention of adhesions between the septum and nasal cavity.
Regulatory Classification
Identification
Ear, nose, and throat synthetic polymer material is a device material that is intended to be implanted for use as a space-occupying substance in the reconstructive surgery of the head and neck. The device is used, for example, in augmentation rhinoplasty and in tissue defect closures in the esophagus. The device is shaped and formed by the suregon to conform to the patient's needs. This generic type of device is made of material such as polyamide mesh or foil and porous polyethylene.
Predicate Devices
Pillar Prolastic Sheeting
SupraFOIL
Seare Silicone Sheeting
Durasil I
Durasil II
Specialty Surgery Silicone Elastomer
Lactosorb Ethmoid Stent
MacroPore Protego System
Submission Summary (Full Text)
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### OCT 2 5 2001
# 019769
### MacroPore ENT Reconstruction Film Page 1 of 3 510(k) SUMMARY
### ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Manufacturer Name:
Official Contact:
MacroPore, Inc. 6740 Top Gun Street San Diego, CA 92121
Kenneth K. Kleinhenz Director of Regulatory Affairs Telephone (858) 458-0900 Fax (858) 458-0994
#### DEVICE NAME
Classification Name:
Ear, nose, and throat synthetic polymer material
Trade/Proprietary Name:
MacroPore ENT Reconstruction Film
### ESTABLISHMENT REGISTRATION NUMBER 2031733
## DEVICE CLASSIFICATION AND PRODUCT CODE
As shown in 21CFR 874.3620, Ear, nose, and throat synthetic polymer materials are synthetic AS shown in 21 21 cr of 1.50by bed, for use as a space-occupying substance in reconstructive surgery procedures of the head and neck. The device is intended to be shaped and formed by the surgeon to conform to the patient's needs. These devices are classified as Class II. Ear, nose, and throat synthetic polymer materials have been assigned Product Code NHB.
#### INTENDED USE
The MacroPore ENT Reconstruction Film is indicated for the following surgical applications:
- 1). Tympanic membrane repair.
- 2). Tympanoplasty in the middle car.
- 3). Nasal splinting and surgical repair of nasal septum.
- 4). Guided tissue regeneration of the external ear.
- 5). Prevents adhesions between the septum and the nasal cavity
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#### DEVICE DESCRIPTION
#### Design Characteristics
MacroPore ENT Reconstruction Film is a resorbable implant in sheet form manufactured from poly lactic acid (PLA). MacroPore ENT Reconstruction Film can be cut with scissors to the desired shape and size. The MacroPore Power Pen can also be used to cut or shape the MacroPore ENT Reconstruction Film to the desired shape or size.
MacroPore ENT Reconstruction Film Sheet is fully malleable when heated to approximately 55°C (for example, by the use of sterile hot water), and thus can be conformed three dimensionally to most any anatomical orientation. The MacroPore ENT Reconstruction Film can be rolled into a tube or used as a flat sheet. It can be used either alone or in conjunction with soft tissue fixation devices such as resorbable sutures, which also can serve to fixate the MacroPore ENT Reconstruction Film and prevent dislocation. The MacroPore ENT Reconstruction Film may be used in conjunction with various MacroPore manual instruments.
MacroPore ENT Reconstruction Film is provided in various shapes such as rectangles, ovals, and circles and will be provided in other shapes and sizes as needed for particular surgical procedures. MacroPore ENT Reconstruction Film is provided in sheets of 10mm x 10mm to 120mm x 120mm and will be provided in other shapes and sizes as needed for particular surgical procedures. The thickness of the MacroPore ENT Reconstruction Film ranges from 0.02 mm to 2.0 mm according to the region to be treated. The MacroPore ENT Reconstruction Film is provided with and without macroporous holes. The macroporous holes range in size from 50 microns to 3,000 microns in diameter and may be in aligned, offset, or random patterns. The borders of the sheets may be aligned with holes to attach suture material
#### Material Composition
The MacroPore ENT Reconstruction Film is fabricated from polylactic acid (PLA).
#### In Vitro Testing
Because the MacroPore ENT Reconstruction Film is intended to be heated in the surgical suite to temperatures above the material's glass transition temperature to facilitate shaping to anatomic structures, testing was performed to determine the effect of prolonged heating in saline at 60°C on inherent viscosity. The testing demonstrates that viscosity stayed within an appropriate range over 120 minutes. Therefore, the relatively brief exposure anticipated during the surgical preparation of MacroPore ENT Reconstruction Film is not expected to have a significant effect on its mechanical properties.
Aging testing was performed on MacroPore ENT Reconstruction Film. Testing demonstrated that the MacroPore ENT Reconstruction Film is strong enough for the indications for use.
Mechanical testing was performed on the MacroPore ENT Reconstruction Film which determined the MacroPore ENT Reconstruction Film to be substantially equivalent to the mechanical strengths of the predicate devices under indication for use conditions.
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#### 510(k) SUMMARY
#### In Vivo Testing
An animal study was conducted to demonstrate safety and efficacy of the MacroPore ENT An animal study was ochial. The animal studies demonstrated that the MacroPore ENT Reconstruction Film materials are appropriate for the indications for use.
### EQUIVALENCE TO MARKETED PRODUCT
MacroPore ENT Reconstruction Film shares indications and design principles with the following predicate devices, which have been determined by FDA to be substantially equivalent to the Pillar Prolastic Sheeting, SupraFOIL, Seare Silicone following pre-amendment devices: Sheeting, Durasil I and Durasil II, Specialty Surgery Silicone Elastomer, Lactosorb Ethmoid Stent, and MacroPore Protego System.
#### Indications For Use
The MacroPore ENT Reconstruction Film shares identical indications for use principles with the The Macror of 214 "Recombile to Pore ENT Reconstruction Film and the predicate devices are indicated for the same surgical procedures.
#### Design and Materials
Design and MacroPore ENT Reconstruction Film and the predicate devices Pillar Prolastic Sheeting, SupraFOIL, Seare Silicone Sheeting, Durasil I and Durasil II, Specialty Fronotic Silicone Elastomer, Lactosorb Ethomoid Stent, and MacroPore Protego System) are substantially equivalent, consisting of a thin semi-rigid sheets that allow for contouring. Both the predicate devices and the MacroPore ENT Reconstruction Film have a semi-rigid construction. predicate also Reconstruction Film and the predicates also share design features of allowing for contouring. The MacroPore ENT Reconstruction Film is fully contourable when heated to for contrately 55°C. The thickness of the predicate devices and the MacroPore ENT approximatory 55 O. The are substantially equivalent as the MacroPore ENT Reconstruction Film thickness ranges are essentially a subset of the predicate ranges. The MacroPore ENT Reconstruction Film has a thickness range of .02mm - 2.0mm which is substantially equivalent to the predicate devices that range in thickness from .05mm - 2.0mm. The dimensions of the predicate device are also comparable to the MacroPore ENT Reconstruction Film as both devices produced in rectangular sheets that are several centimeters in size. The mechanical characteristics of the MacroPore ENT Reconstruction Film are also substantially equivalent to the predicate devices. In addition to physical characteristics, both the predicate device and the MacroPore ENT Reconstruction Film can be cut to specific shapes and sizes by the end user.
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Image /page/3/Picture/1 description: The image shows a black and white logo. The logo is circular and contains an image of an eagle. The eagle is facing to the right. The text "U.S. Department of Health & Human Services" is written around the circle.
Food and Drug Administration 9200 Corporate Boulevard Rockville MD 20850
OCT 2 5 2001
MacroPore, Inc. c/o Kenneth K. Kleinhenz Director of Regulatory Affairs 6740 Top Gun Street San Diego, CA 92121
Re: K012769
Trade/Device Name: MicroPore ENT Reconstruction Film Regulation Number: 21 CFR 874.3620; 21 CFR 874.4780 Regulation Name: Ear Nose and Throat Synthetic Polymer Material Intranasal Splint Regulatory Class: Class II; Class I Product Code: NHB: LYA Dated: August 15, 2001 Received: August 17, 2001
Dear Mr. Kleinhenz:
We have reviewed your Section 510(k) notification of intent to market the device referenced above and we have determined the device is substantially equivalent (for the indications for use stated in the enclosure) to devices marketed in interstate commerce prior to May 28, 1976, the enactment date of the Medical Device Amendments, or to devices that have been reclassified in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (Act). You may, therefore, market the device, subject to the general controls provisions of the Act. The general controls provisions of the Act include requirements for annual registration, listing of devices, good manufacturing practice, labeling, and prohibitions against misbranding and adulteration.
If your device is classified (see above) into either class II (Special Controls) or class III (Premarket Approval), it may be subject to such additional controls. Existing major regulations affecting your device can be found in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 21, Parts 800 to 895. A substantially equivalent determination assumes compliance with the Current Good Manufacturing Practice requirements, as set forth in the Quality System Regulation (QS) for Medical Devices: General regulation (21 CFR Part 820) and that, through periodic QS inspections, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will verify such assumptions. Failure to comply with the GMP regulation may result in regulatory action. In addition, FDA may publish further announcements concerning your device in the Federal Register. Please note: this response to your premarket notification submission does not affect any obligation you might have under sections 531 through 542 of the Act for devices under the Electronic Product Radiation Control provisions, or other Federal laws or regulations.
{4}------------------------------------------------
and the country of the county of
This letter will allow you to begin marketing your device as described in your Section 510(k) This letter with anow you to obgin mailing of substantial equivalence of your device to a legally prematication. "The PDF missily sification for your device and thus, permits your device to proceed to the market.
If you desire specific advice for your device on our labeling regulation (21 CFR Part 801 and If you desire specific acres 809.10 for in vitro diagnostic devices), please contact the Office of additionally 21 OF 1 F a c 613. Additionally, for questions on the promotion and advertising of Complance at (301) 591-1019 Fridaes Compliance at (301) 594-4639. Also, please note the regulation entitled, "Misbranding by reference to premarket notification" (21CFR Part 807.97). Other general information on your responsibilities under the Act may be obtained from the Division Other general international and Consumer Assistance at its toll-free number (800) 638-2041 or (301) 443-6597 or at its Internet address http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/dsma/dsmamain.html
Sincerely yours,
A. Ralph Rosenthal
A. Ralph Rosenthal, M.D. Director Division of Ophthalmic and Ear, Nose and Throat Devices Office of Device Evaluation Center for Devices and Radiological Health
{5}------------------------------------------------
012769
## Device Name: MacroPore ENT Reconstruction Film
### Indications for Use:
and the comments of the comments
Thurcations for 'OSC.
The MacroPore ENT Reconstruction Film is indicated for the following surgical applications:
- 1). Tympanic membrane repair.
- 2). Tympanoplasty in the middle ear.
- 3). Nasal splinting and surgical repair of nasal septum.
- 4). Guided tissue regeneration of the external ear.
- 5). Prevents adhesions between the septum and the nasal cavity.
(PLEASE DO NOT WRITE BELOW THIS LINE – CONTINUE ON ANOTHER PAGE IF NECESSARY) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Concurrence of CDRH, Office of Device Evaluation (ODE)
Prescription Use
Division of Ophthalmic I 510(k) Number
Over-The-Counter Use _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Two short videos show you everything — or skip straight to the written tutorial if you'd rather read. You can reopen this any time from the Tutorial button in the top bar.
Part 1 — Search, results, and everyday workflows 16 min
Part 2 — Embeddings: the galaxy map 3 min
1. Search: exact and fuzzy
Type a phrase like "coronary artery calcification" into the search box. You get two kinds of results. Exact results match the literal phrase — prefix searches work ("coronary artery calcificati") but suffix searches do not. Fuzzy results match on the meaning and intent of your phrase rather than the exact words, and are sorted by relevance score. Hover over the Exact or Fuzzy badge on any row to see exactly why it matched.
Use the checkboxes above the results to narrow: SaMD keeps only software-only devices, AI / ML keeps only devices with AI.
Exact vs. fuzzy search: what's the difference?
Exact matches on the literal phrase (prefix search works, suffix does not). Fuzzy matches on the meaning and intent of the phrase rather than the exact words. Hover over the badge on any row to see why it matched.
You search "coronary artery calcification" and want only software devices with AI. What two filters do you apply?
Narrow by SaMD (software-only devices), then narrow by AI/ML (devices with AI).
2. The results table
Scroll right in the results table. The intended use is extracted for you — no need to open the PDF. The device story gives a high-level snapshot of what the device does and how it's used. The AI Performance sub-table shows each output name, acceptance criteria, observed values, and development/test dataset descriptions — the same format Innolitics uses for regulatory strategy outputs, and the fastest high-level fingerprint of an AI device. It is AI-generated but has been very reliable in practice.
Where do you find a device's intended use without opening the PDF?
Scroll right in the search results table. The intended use column is extracted for you; no need to dig into the 510(k) summary PDF.
What does the AI Performance sub-table show, and why is it useful?
Output name, acceptance criteria, observed values, development dataset description, and test dataset description. It's the same format we use for regulatory strategy output and Fast 510(k) input, and the fastest high-level fingerprint of an AI device. AI-generated but reliable in practice.
3. Judging fuzzy relevance
Fuzzy results trail off in relevance as you scroll. Use three signals to decide how far down to go: the fuzzy badge explanations, the intended use column, and whether your target output (e.g., Cobb angle) still appears in the AI Performance sub-table. Once it stops appearing, you're past the relevant zone. A top hit with a low score (~0.4) and a stretched explanation is a hint the closest predicates are far away — the project may be headed for De Novo. Note the fuzzy search is a pattern match: it doesn't handle negation ("not") well, and hardware devices can appear — filter by SaMD/AI ML to cut them.
How do you judge how far down fuzzy search results to go?
Use the relevancy signals: the fuzzy badge explanations, the intended use column, and whether the target output (e.g., Cobb angle) still appears in the AI Performance sub-table. Once it stops appearing, results are trailing off in relevancy.
4. Device detail page: chat and citations
Click a device name to open its detail page: device facts on the left, a chat window on the right. Ask something like "Describe the training data". The answer carries little citation bubbles — click one to jump to the highlighted passage in the source PDF, so you can verify every AI answer against the document. There's also a Download PDF button for sharing.
How do you verify an AI chat answer on the device detail page?
Click the citation bubbles to jump to the relevant highlight in the source document.
Reading rule for every project: how many summaries do you read in full?
At least the three most relevant 510(k) or De Novo summaries, in full. After that, use targeted chat questions to confirm your memory quickly. The tool supports this professional habit — it doesn't replace it.
5. Side-by-side comparison
Select multiple rows in the results table (aim for under ~10), then open the PDF Viewer tab. Ask one question — it goes to all selected devices in parallel, each with citations. This is the fastest way to compare and contrast devices: training data, PCCP scope, how they handled adding new scanners, and so on.
What does the side-by-side PDF viewer mode do?
Select multiple devices, open the PDF viewer tab, and ask one question (e.g., "Describe the training data"). It queries all selected devices simultaneously with citations, so you can compare and contrast quickly.
6. Collections
With rows selected, go to the Collections tab and create a labeled collection (e.g., "Cobb Angle Project"). Reload that selection any time — before a client call, pull up the collection and ask questions across all of its devices at once.
How do you save a set of selected devices for later use?
Select the rows, go to the Collections tab, and create a labeled collection (e.g., "Cobb Angle Project"). You can reload the selection anytime and carry it into the PDF viewer and other tabs that support selections.
7. Product codes and the regulations tree
Click a product code in the results to jump to it in the regulations tree — identification text, sibling product codes, and devices you can open in a PDF viewer on the right. Click a regulation number to see its identification, special controls, and related product codes. You can also search by product code or regulation number at the top of the tree. Always read the special controls if any exist for your device — it broadens your search and sharpens pre-kickoff research.
What can you do from the regulations tree view?
Browse product codes and regulation numbers, read the identification text and special controls, browse sibling product codes, open device PDFs on the right, and search by product code or regulation number at the top of the tree.
8. Chart view
Click Show Chart and segment by regulation number (or product code) to see which regulations dominate your result set. Clicking a regulation takes you into the regulations tree. Great for spotting that most matches are, say, hardware laparoscopic devices — a cue to go back and filter.
How do you see which regulations dominate a search result set?
Click "Show Chart" and segment by Regulation Number. Clicking a regulation takes you to the regulations tree.
9. The predicate graph
Open the Predicates tab for a family-tree view of predicate relationships. Click a node to trace its parents and children; selections from search carry over pre-selected. Commonly predicated devices are worth reading — a lot of people predicated them for a reason. The visual lineage is also handy on client calls, e.g. to show how a predicate family evolved and justify why your predicate still holds.
In the predicate graph, why are commonly predicated devices worth reading?
A lot of people predicated them for a reason. Clicking a node traces parents and children, and selections from search carry over pre-selected.
10. Embeddings: the galaxy map
The Embeddings tab plots every matching document in a 2-D "galaxy map" where semantically similar devices cluster together. Hover or click clusters to explore, and let AI label the clusters for you. Embeddings beat product codes for grouping: two devices can carry different product codes (LLZ vs. QIH) yet do the same thing — the embedding captures the meaning of the intended use and device story. This is also exactly how retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) works under the hood, and it makes a great visual on client calls.
Try it yourself
Head to the search page and work through a few of these AI/ML fuzzy searches to build intuition: perivascular fat on CT · aortic valve calcification opportunistic screening on noncontrast CT · breast cancer prediction on digital pathology slides · autism detection · gestational age prediction · a hearing aid that can also detect a pulse · foundation model based analysis of ECG · large language models · penetration test. Watch how the relevance scores, intended use, and AI Performance tables tell you when results stop being meaningful.